JOIN USSculptor not invited for unveiling ceremony of Sarvajna statue in TN
The statue, which was meticulously sculpted by her during the height of the drama surrounding the abduction of matinee idol Dr Rajkumar took five months to complete.
Pramodini says, “I am a little sad that the State government has not invited me for the unveiling ceremony. It took me about five months to complete this as there was a real urgency at that time.”
At Rs 7.5 lakh
She adds that the statue was completed in 2001 and was done in record time as it reportedly figured among Veerappan’s demands for releasing the actor. The sculpture cost Rs 7.5 lakh and was done during the tenure of Rani Satish as minister for Kannada and Culture.
The 45-year-old B Com graduate reveals that her interest in sculpting began after her marriage to eminent artist and the Dean of the Chamarajendra Academy for Visual Arts (CAVA), V A Deshpande. She has been sculpting for the past 20 years and had completed about 60 sculptures of various shapes and sizes including the 9.5 feet Gandhi sculpture in Mysore.
Others include larger than life sculptures of Dalit leaderJagjivan Ram in Mysore and Davangere.
“Initially I began by helping my husband in his work and gradually my interest in sculpting grew,” she says.
The entire work on the Sarvajna statue was done at an art studio in Chikkegowdana Koppalu in Mysore, run by the couple.
Although a little peeved that the government has not extended her an invitation for the unveiling ceremony, she expressed delight at the installation of the statue.
“The whole issue has been shrouded in uncertainty right from the time of its conception but I really hope that this installation breaks fresh ground between the two states,” she says.